Mandy Hickson

RAF Pilot & Brilliant Motivational Speaker

Mandy’s route to the top was tumultuous in every sense – awarded a RAF flying scholarship at 17, long before she even passed her driving test, she went on to win aerobatic competitions whilst still a student. However, despite her prowess in the skies, she failed the computer-based tests, taken by all potential RAF pilots.

Undeterred, her self-belief and dogged determination persuaded the RAF to take her on as a test case, thereby overcoming seemingly insurmountable hurdles. Mandy relates her experiences of working within an elite team of fast jet operators with great clarity, outlining how the same values apply within any environment.

She demonstrates only too well the importance of remaining calm under pressure and leading, quite literally, from the front, in order to get the best from herself and her team. Since leaving the RAF Mandy has served as a school governor, on the board of trustees at the Victory Services Club, London and is an ambassador for sport for Hampshire County Council.

Flying a multi-million pound fighter jet in hostile territory is not an everyday career, and comes with a high degree of pressure and responsibility. It’s a dream job that takes years of ambition, training and commitment but, for Mandy Hickson, it was a dream that became reality.

To book Mandy Hickson as the motivational speaker for your corporate event, function or conference, simply contact the Champions Speakers agency by emailing agent@championsukplc.com or by calling a booking agent directly on 0207 1010 553.

When she’s at corporate events, Mandy is known to cover the following topics:

The building and empowerment of effective teams

Inspired goal setting and ultimate focus

Decision-making under extreme pressure

Maintaining momentum despite losing top talent

Nurturing a culture of self confidence and aspiration

See what people had to say about Mandy, when she appeared at their events, below:

“Mandy is a fantastic public speaker. She is both inspirational and extremely well prepared. Her ability to relate her own experience working under extreme pressure and in highly performing teams to everyday situations is most impressive. She tops it all with a wonderful sense of humour and great modesty. Listening to her talking about the many challenges that she has successfully overcome should be compulsory for all girls!” – Miriam Gonzalez, Partner Dechert LLP, International Law Firm

“Much like the fighter jets you flew, the noise (feedback) about your presentation can still be heard. The feedback has been fantastic with many saying “Mandy was the most inspirational speaker I have ever heard”. You are extraordinarily talented, hugely determined and beautifully funny with a great ability to connect with people – for such a high flier you are very grounded! Thank you for sharing , it was great pleasure.” – Peter Kenny , Managing Director, Old Mutual International

“Mandy, great to meet you. Your session was particularly well received. I am delighted I was able to stay to hear you talk. Your story is very inspirational and I recognised many of the challenges you have faced as a woman in a predominantly male world as these issues are industry agnostic. I am sure we could spend hours sharing our war stories (literal and metaphorical !). I do all I can to help the next generation navigate these challenges and not experience the same difficulties as those who have gone before. You are clearly doing the same.” – Sue Fox, CEO I M&S Bank

“I just wanted to say thank you once again for a fabulous talk at our execs conference. They were buzzing afterwards, just as the partners were, and it really made the day. Funny, human and relevant with an appropriate dose of self-deprecation. You went down a storm! Thank you.” – Jonathan Thornton, Managing Partner, Russell-Cooke International Law Firm